Fertility Issues: A Basic Overview Of IUI

A Basic Overview Of IUI

By Parenting Editor

In this article we address some of the common questions regarding Intrauterine Insemination, or IUI ...

IUI or Intrauterine Insemination is a medical procedure to overcome some of the infertility related problems. In certain cases where natural intercourse fails to cause fertilization, IUI comes as a help. Fertilization takes place in the fallopian tubes of a woman and the success rate can be increased by increasing the number of sperm in it. Through a thin and flexible catheter, washed and concentrated spermatozoids are injected directly into the uterus.

Where it Helps

In cases where cervical mucus is the problem, IUI helps. It helps in the case of low sperm count also. It is a general recommendation in the case of unknown infertility causes. So couples should go through a proper check up before opting for IUI.

Generally, the sperm of the male partner is used in an IUI fertility technique but in special cases, screened sperms of anonymous donors are used. Ovulatory disorders can be treated by this technique if the concerned women respond to fertility medicines. First, the ovulation is stimulated by hormone treatment and then IUI is done around the time of ovulation. Women with mild endometriosis will also benefit from this treatment as they almost come under the same category as women with unexplained infertility. In the case of severely damaged or blocked fallopian tubes, women cannot get any help from this process.

How it is done

Through drug treatment, maturation of 2 or 3 eggs is encouraged. Certain pills and injections are used to stimulate the growth of follicles and cause ovulation. Then the growth of the follicles is measured and individualized drug doses are monitored. Precaution against any side effect is taken. Monitoring is necessary against the risk of multiple pregnancies also. Generally, three to four mature follicles are generated.

When they reach their target size, a hormone is injected to induce ovulation. A fresh sample of sperm is taken on the morning of the day of ovulation and is injected in the daytime after some preparation. Pregnancy tests and ultrasound monitoring is done later.

Risk Factor

Though complications of IUI are not very common, there can be infection, brief uterine cramping, or venereal diseases can be transmitted through donor’s semen. Hormone treatment for controlled ovarian hyper stimulation can cause multiple pregnancies if more than three follicles mature. It can also cause large ovaries and fluid collection in the abdomen.

Timing

The ideal timing for this process is before or after 6 hours of ovulation. When hormonal injections have been used to induce ovulation, IUI is generally done after 28 and before 48 hours of the injection being given.

Success Rate

Overall success rate of IUI fertility technique is between 25 to 20 %.

Next article: How Chemotherapy Can Affect Chemo Pregnancy

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